Logging trucks are behind some of the most devastating truck crashes in the Morristown area of East Tennessee. If you have been injured by a logging truck accident that was not your fault, you deserve compensation for the harm and losses you have suffered at someone else’s hands. Turn to an experienced Morristown logging truck accident lawyer from The Terry Law Firm for help.
Our family tradition of providing attentive and assertive legal representation to accident victims stretches back to 1960. We are a small-town firm with big-city know-how that can take on the most complex cases while still offering our clients a friendly, welcoming atmosphere. When you choose us for your case, we will get to know you and your needs so we can build a comprehensive strategy to match.
Reach out to The Terry Law Firm for a free initial case evaluation with our Morristown logging truck accident attorneys. We are ready to discuss your options for pursuing the compensation you need. Let us help you seek accountability for the harm you have endured due to the negligence of a truck driver, logging company, or trucking carrier.
Why Are Logging Truck Accidents So Dangerous?
Some of the factors that can make logging truck accidents more dangerous than other kinds of motor vehicle accidents include the following:
- The greater weight of logging trucks means these vehicles collide with greater force, typically causing more severe injuries.
- Timber cargo must be properly secured to prevent shifting during travel. Shifting can cause a driver to lose control of their vehicle because of the rapid movement in cargo weight and vehicle center of gravity.
- Failing to properly secure timber also creates a risk of a cargo accident in which timber logs spill onto the road or onto vehicles next to the truck.
- Logging trucks have large blind spots, making it likelier that an inattentive trucker will collide with nearby vehicles when turning or changing lanes.
What Are the Common Causes and Types of Log Truck Accidents?
Common causes of logging truck accidents include:
- Speeding
- Disregarding traffic controls, including running stop signs or red lights
- Tailgating
- Failing to check mirrors or signal before changing lanes or turning
- Drowsy driving, especially after exceeding hours-of-service regulations
- Distracted driving
- Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs
- Truck driver inexperience
- Unsafe cargo loading, including failing to balance the load or to secure the load from shifting or falling off the trailer
- Inadequate truck and trailer maintenance
- Vehicle defects
- Dangerous or unsafe roads, such as narrow roads or roads with potholes
- Poor weather conditions
- Low visibility or low lighting
A logging truck may be involved in many different types of crashes, such as:
- Head-on collisions
- Rear-end collisions
- Sideswipe collisions
- Side-impact or T-bone collisions
- Underride or override accidents
- Jackknife accidents
- Rollover accidents
- Cargo accidents
Who Is Liable in a Log Truck Accident Case?
The parties who may have liability for the injuries and losses you suffered in a logging truck crash include:
- The truck driver – The driver of the logging truck may have liability for a crash due to negligent operation of the vehicle, including careless or reckless driving, failing to follow safety protocols, or failing to inspect the vehicle.
- The trucking company – The trucking company will have liability for a logging truck accident caused by a driver it employs. The company may also be held liable for its negligence that caused or contributed to the logging truck accident, including negligent training and supervision of drivers or instructing drivers to engage in unsafe practices.
- The logging company – The logging company may have liability for a logging truck accident caused by improper loading of timber onto the truck or failing to secure a timber load, for example.
- Third-party mechanics – Third-party mechanics and repair companies hired to maintain the truck or trailer may be liable if improper maintenance leads to mechanical failure and a subsequent accident.
- Truck and trailer part manufacturers – The manufacturer of the logging truck or trailer or the manufacturer of a part used on either may be held liable for an accident caused by a defect in its product.
Potential Compensation After a Logging Truck Crash
The compensation you could recover after a logging truck crash may include money for your:
- Medical and rehabilitation expenses to treat accident injuries
- Long-term care expenses for services to help you with permanent disabilities
- Ongoing and future loss of income and job benefits due to temporary or permanent disability from work
- Pain and suffering
- Reduced enjoyment and quality of life or reduced life expectancy caused by disabilities, scarring, and disfigurement
How Our Morristown Truck Accident Attorneys Can Help
You need to focus your energy on your medical treatment and emotional recovery after a devastating logging truck accident. A logging truck accident lawyer from The Terry Law Firm can pursue your compensation claims for you, giving you the time and freedom you need to heal and rebuild your life.
Let our Morristown truck accident attorneys help you demand the justice you deserve by:
- Investigating the accident to recover evidence to support your compensation claim
- Identifying parties who may be held liable to compensate you for your expenses and losses
- Documenting your injuries and losses to calculate what financial recovery you are entitled to
- Preparing you for what to expect throughout your case
- Filing insurance and legal claims to aggressively pursue a full settlement for you
- Negotiating with the insurance companies for maximum compensation for all your losses
- Taking your case to court and trial if pursuing the best possible result in your case demands it
If you or a loved one was hurt in a logging truck accident in Morristown, TN, and someone else is to blame, you could be owed compensation. Let The Terry Law Firm help you demand it.
Contact us today for a free, no-obligation consultation with our Tennessee logging truck accident lawyers. Our team is prepared to work hard to hold those at fault for the truck accident responsible for the harm you have suffered.
When you file a truck accident claim, you may be able to recover compensation for various expenses and losses you incurred due to the crash. Your case may provide you with financial recovery for your:
- Medical and rehabilitation expenses
- Lost income
- Lost future earning potential and job benefits
- Pain and suffering
- Lost enjoyment or quality of life
- Vehicle repairs or reimbursement of your car’s value
Yes, it’s crucial to call the police at the scene of a truck accident. The police can investigate the crash scene, gather information from the truck driver and other motorists and eyewitnesses, and prepare an accident report. Police crash reports often provide critical information for truck accident claims.
Other steps you should take at the crash scene include:
- Check on everyone involved in the accident to see if anyone requires immediate medical attention.
- Move your vehicle out of the path of traffic if possible, or walk to the side of the road if your car has been disabled.
- Get the truck driver’s employer and insurance information and insurance information from any other drivers involved in the crash.
- Take photos and videos of the accident scene, including vehicle damage, license plates, visible injuries you suffered, skid marks on the road, and traffic controls at the scene.
- Talk to eyewitnesses to obtain a brief statement of what they saw and their contact information.
In most cases, the insurer of the at-fault truck driver or the trucking company that employed the driver will pay you compensation for your truck accident claim if they are found liable. Other parties may also have liability for the accident, including:
- The truck’s owner
- The cargo company
- The truck and trailer manufacturer
- Manufacturers of parts used on the truck
- Third-party auto shops that serviced the truck
You should contact a truck accident attorney immediately after a truck accident. A lawyer will know what it takes to thoroughly investigate the accident and prepare a compelling, persuasive legal claim. A lawyer can also document your injuries and losses and estimate future expenses to ensure you seek total compensation. Your attorney can also deal with trucking company representatives, insurance adjusters, defense lawyers, or bill collectors on your behalf so you can focus on healing.
Although liability for the truck accident is determined under traditional state negligence laws, other laws – such as state and federal trucking industry regulations – may affect the outcome of your case. For example, a truck driver’s violation of the federal or state hours-of-service regulations may serve as evidence that they were too tired to drive safely. Speak with your attorney to learn more about the laws that apply in your case.
Here are some factors that make truck accident cases more complicated than other kinds of auto accident claims:
- Truck accident victims often suffer more severe injuries that require longer, more expensive medical care.
- Truck accidents can injure more people than other types of crashes.
- Truck accidents may have multiple liable parties who will fight with each other to shift financial responsibility among themselves.
- Truck accident claims may involve lots of complex evidence.
- Trucking companies may have complicated corporate structures or layered insurance policies that make it difficult to determine the extent of financial assets available to the company.